News / Local
Fake prophet rapes girl (16), claiming he was exorcising evil spirit
07 Dec 2011 at 22:27hrs | Views
A self-styled prophet, Godfrey Mabhena (40) from an apostolic sect in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl the whole night claiming that he was exorcising evil spirits.
The incident occurred recently in Old Lobengula suburb.
Mabhena of Old Lobengula, who is a pastor and prophet at the Johanne Masowe WeChishanu Apostolic Church, was reportedly conducting a prayer session with other church members in a bush near Old Lobengula suburb when he spotted the girl passing by along Siyephambili Drive.
He reportedly sent one of the church prophets to summon the girl to where he was. Mabhena then told the complainant that she was being used by evil spirits and unless the spirits were exorcised, she would go mad.
He allegedly told the complainant that he needed to pray for her as soon as possible.
Mabhena told her to return to the same place the following day so he could pray for her.
The following day he advised other clients seeking his services that he could not be consulted on the day. This he did in order to remain alone with the girl.
Once alone with the girl, Mabhena proposed to her but she turned him down. He allegedly threatened that he would pray for her to go mad and out of fear she gave in.
The girl reportedly later confided in Mabhena that she was an orphan and was working as a domestic worker in the same suburb. She further told him that she would be happy to find someone to marry her.
Mabhena allegedly told the girl that he wanted her to be his wife as he was still single.
He then allegedly took her to his house where he locked her up and had sex with her the whole night. He only released her the following morning.
Mabhena reportedly told the girl that having sex with her was part of the prayer session meant to exorcise the evil spirits.
Mabhena was arraigned before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira to answer to three counts of rape.
After State witnesses had testified, Mabhena claimed he wanted to invite his key witness, who he said was the Editor of B-Metro called Mr Trevor Nyikadzaramba.
Accord to Zim Papers there is no such person at B-Metro.
Mabhena told the court that the alleged B-Metro Editor would testify that the complainant confided in him that she falsely implicated him because she feared her employer was going to beat her up.
He said the complainant had in fact consented to having sex with him.
The court remanded the case to tomorrow to allow the State to look for the said Editor.
Mr Lewis Maunze appeared for the State.
The incident occurred recently in Old Lobengula suburb.
Mabhena of Old Lobengula, who is a pastor and prophet at the Johanne Masowe WeChishanu Apostolic Church, was reportedly conducting a prayer session with other church members in a bush near Old Lobengula suburb when he spotted the girl passing by along Siyephambili Drive.
He reportedly sent one of the church prophets to summon the girl to where he was. Mabhena then told the complainant that she was being used by evil spirits and unless the spirits were exorcised, she would go mad.
He allegedly told the complainant that he needed to pray for her as soon as possible.
Mabhena told her to return to the same place the following day so he could pray for her.
The following day he advised other clients seeking his services that he could not be consulted on the day. This he did in order to remain alone with the girl.
Once alone with the girl, Mabhena proposed to her but she turned him down. He allegedly threatened that he would pray for her to go mad and out of fear she gave in.
The girl reportedly later confided in Mabhena that she was an orphan and was working as a domestic worker in the same suburb. She further told him that she would be happy to find someone to marry her.
He then allegedly took her to his house where he locked her up and had sex with her the whole night. He only released her the following morning.
Mabhena reportedly told the girl that having sex with her was part of the prayer session meant to exorcise the evil spirits.
Mabhena was arraigned before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira to answer to three counts of rape.
After State witnesses had testified, Mabhena claimed he wanted to invite his key witness, who he said was the Editor of B-Metro called Mr Trevor Nyikadzaramba.
Accord to Zim Papers there is no such person at B-Metro.
Mabhena told the court that the alleged B-Metro Editor would testify that the complainant confided in him that she falsely implicated him because she feared her employer was going to beat her up.
He said the complainant had in fact consented to having sex with him.
The court remanded the case to tomorrow to allow the State to look for the said Editor.
Mr Lewis Maunze appeared for the State.
Source - Zimpapers
